Hundreds of zero byte .empty files in srtm folder

[NickJP]

I just noticed that as well as the .hgt files in the /Locus/data/srtm folder, there are hundreds (636) of zero byte files with a .empty extension, all with names of the form <lat><long>.empty - eg S44E149.empty. Can I safely delete these? Locus Pro 3.40.2 on a Pixel 2 running Android 10.

[Menion]

Hello Nick,
suggest checking what is in the area this file cover .

[NickJP]

I had a look at half a dozen of the empty files, and from the lat/long in the filename, they are all for locations in the sea just off the coast of countries for which I have maps and contours installed in Locus. I closed Locus, used a file manager to move all 639 files out of the Locus folder structure, and when I run Locus, everything seems to function exactly as before. If I don't detect any problems over the next few days, I'll delete the files.

[Menion]

Reason, why you have these files, is that you had to request to download HGT files for these areas.
And because we do not have sea depth files, Locus store such empty files instead, to be sure it already ask for fresh data. So yes, you may delete them without a worry.